Is ‘Beauty Sleep’ a Real Thing?

As it turns out, ‘beauty sleep’ might be a real thing, and not just an old adage. Sleep is undoubtedly important. We all know that the brain and the body both perform crucial maintenance during this very important down-time, and that if we fail to get enough of it, it can hurt our health and well being… both in the short term and in the long term.

But some new information has made the rounds that may also shed some new light on the idea. And now, researchers are saying that ‘beauty sleep’ is a real thing.

And if you don’t get enough, your social life, and possibly even your good looks, may suffer.

What Is Beauty Sleep and What Does This Mean?

The term ‘beauty sleep’ is usually meant to refer to ‘extra sleep,’ which is sleep that, according to legend, helps you to stay younger and more vibrant.

But doctors have discovered that there may be more truth to this term than anyone ever believed.

New research has come out that is shining a bit of light on the role that sleep plays in regard to attraction. And not surprisingly, there is most definitely a link between sleep and your ability to appear attractive to others.

According to this research, two consecutive nights of poor sleep can make you appear ‘less attractive and healthy’ to others. People may also be naturally less likely to socialize with someone who does not get enough sleep.

These observations were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, and the study itself was co-authored by a doctor named Tina Sundelin. She works at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

Not getting enough sleep can result in a more ‘haggard’ appearance. Puffy eyes and a ‘dull’ complexion are just two examples of how a lack of sleep can affect someone’s looks. But of course, sleep loss can also impact our mood and our behavior. People are grouchier and ‘less fun’ when they haven’t gotten enough sleep, which can absolutely impact them on a social level.

And of course, long-term sleep loss can take an even greater toll. The skin, the eyes, the hair… almost everything can be affected. And even if you manage to ‘catch up’ on the weekends, that might not be enough to avoid the increased likelihood of the chances of long-term social challenges brought about by your sleep loss.

How Much Sleep Do You Need to Avoid These Negatives?

Most people agree that you need 7 to 8 hours of sleep at night in order to give yourself a chance to be ‘well rested.’ Of course, sleep disorders, like snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, can work against you here as well.

There is also a bit of evidence to support the belief that women might actually need about 20 more minutes of sleep per 8-hours than the average man does.

As a general rule, it seems wise to listen to your body, maintain consistent sleep habits, and try to be self-aware enough to assess your current overall sleep health (source). If you notice yourself becoming more fatigued as the day goes by, you might need to look into making some changes.

Getting enough sleep is far more important to our general health and wellness than a lot of people think. And yet, research by the Sleep Health Foundation has found between 33 and 45 percent of Aussies have poor sleep patterns

In the end, it turns out that there is absolutely a link between sleep, attraction, and our social appeal to other humans.

Joshua Sigafus is just a writer trying to make the world a better place. He writes extensively about positive living, health, wellness, success, and happiness, and you can check out his daily blog at www.livinginspringfield.net for daily positive vibes and blog posts.